11 LC 36 1922S

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee offered the following substitute to SR 104:

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Crematoria Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, with the price of funerals steadily increasing over the years, cremation has become a growing trend for honoring loved ones after they have passed on; and

WHEREAS, with increased demand for cremations, more crematoria are being built outside the traditional setting of a funeral home or cemetery, with some being located in industrial parks or in or near residential areas; and

WHEREAS, various issues have arisen surrounding the placement of crematoriums in local communities, including but not limited to, zoning and land use; and

WHEREAS, there are some health and safety concerns associated with crematoriums, such as the operation of high combustion industrial ovens; noise levels; associated exhaust emissions from the cremation process including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, mercury, and dioxins; and odors; and some persons find there is a stigma associated with living near a crematorium; and

WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has determined that crematoriums do not have to be regulated by that agency.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Crematoria Study Committee to be composed of three members. The President of the Senate shall appoint three members of the Senate as members of the committee and shall designate one of such members as chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. All funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2011. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2011.